Westport based Derek McLoughlin and Claremorris natives The Murphy Sisters were this year’s recipients of Mayo County Councils, Music Recording Assistance Awards. The arts office were delighted with the response to their call for applications which according to an arts office statement “has shown once again the breadth and the quality of music making in the county.
“The field included a fantastic cross section of genres, and the high calibre of applicants made the selection difficult work for the assessment panel.”
Derek McLoughlin is a singer-songwriter who has been writing songs for the past 15 years. His music is steeped in the folk and roots tradition, with a local flavour and significence to his songs. He is orignally from Claremorris and he also runs his own instrument-making business.
The Murphy Sisters are steeped in Irish music and their sound is a fusion of folk, country and trad. With this award and with the recording of their first album, they will kick off a European tour in France in January.
The Music Recording Assistance Award was established to support the recording of original music by musicians living in the county and recipients receive up to €800 towards the costs of an original music recording. The award is open to all forms of Music and applications are assessed by an independent and impartial panel of music industry professionals.
